Europe is home to the Greek Parthenon in Athens, the Roman Colosseum in Rome, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and many, many more architectural masterpieces. You know what it’s lacking, though? An underwater restaurant. But a company called Snøhetta (previously here) is on a quest to change that. They have designed a three-level structure with a 36-foot-wide panoramic window that allows visitors to “journey” to the sea in southern Norway.

At first glance, “Under” looks like a concrete container, tossed into the shallows near the village Båly, but once inside it radiates life. The restaurant will have the space to fit up to 100 guests, and the building will even double as a marine research centre when no one is dining. “More than an aquarium, the structure will become a part of its marine environment, coming to rest directly on the sea bed five meters below the water’s surface,” Snøhetta writes. “Like a sunken periscope, the restaurant’s massive acrylic windows offer a view of the seabed as it changes throughout the seasons and varying weather conditions.”

Snøhetta hopes to begin construction next year, with the goal of opening in 2019. (via Bored Panda and Greta J.)

New York-based firm Specht Harpman Architects has turned a tiny 425-square-feet Manhattan micro loft apartment into a stylish, spacious home. Located on the top level of a six story building, it features a narrow vertical layout not unlike this similar apartment in Madrid. The firm made use of four separate “living platforms” to accommodate all the necessities of apartment life, while ensuring it remains spacious and open.

A small bathroom is located on the bottom floor under a staircase, which has multiple storage compartments built into it. The kitchen opens up into the living room, with white cabinets and countertops maintaining a bright and airy feel. The simple design prevents the area from looking untidy and cluttered, creating the illusion of more space. The first flight of stairs takes you to the bedroom, which is supported on steel beams and seems to float above the living room below. The bed frame comes with a night stand and a cabinet behind the bed stores magazines and books. More storage compartments are hidden under a second set of stairs which leads to the rooftop garden.

Every inch of space has been creatively utilized to make the most of the limited area, with each “room” dissolving into the next to create a seamless flow. The lack of walls and doors ensures the apartment doesn’t feel cramped, while the built-in features mean only a few pieces of furniture like a couch, coffee table, bed and side chair are needed. (via Design Taxi)

In 2009, the old church of Valer, a small town south-east of Norway, had disappeared in flames. Cebra studio based in Copenhagen proposed a design for a new building to be constructed in the same place.(via Fubiz) I really like this idea.